Belgium announces Worlds squad to support Evenepoel and Van Aert's rainbow jersey ambitions

The eight-man Belgian line-up for the elite men’s road race at the World Championships has been revealed, with the squad spearheaded by Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike).

No nation has claimed more victories in the elite men’s road race than Belgium, with 27 titles to their name. Their last victory came in 2022 in Wollongong, Australia, when Evenepoel soloed to the win just two weeks after claiming the Vuelta a España.

After finishing second at the Tour de France and winning a record-breaking fourth Clásica San Sebastián, Evenepoel will use the GP Québec and Montréal as his final preparations this year.

The Olympic Champion will then launch his bid to win the road race world title for the second time and become the seventh male Belgian to do so.

While Evenepoel is skipping the Spanish Grand Tour this time around, his Worlds co-leader, Wout van Aert, is currently in the thick of it. 

Van Aert has shown stellar form at the Vuelta, winning two stages from breakaways and playing a key role in Matthew Brennan’s three sprint victories.

Two of Evenepoel’s trade teammates have also made the cut in Maxim Van Gils and Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

Van Gils claimed a stage win at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in June before supporting Evenepoel at the Tour and in San Sebastián. He made his Worlds debut back in 2024 in Zürich, Switzerland, where he finished 51st, and will make his second appearance this time around. 

Meanwhile, Vermeersch is currently racing the Vuelta and is set for his elite road race debut at the Worlds.

Alec Segaert (Bahrain-Victorious) has been rewarded with selection after his strong 2026 campaign to date, which included a stage win at the Giro in May. The 23-year-old joins Vemeersch in making his debut in the elite men’s road race. 

Multi-disciplined stars Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) and Quinten Hermans (Pinarello-Q36.5) will also feature for their first and fourth appearances respectively. The former narrowly missed out on a first Grand Tour stage, finishing third in a five-man breakaway sprint on stage 15 behind Van Aert.

Finally, the squad is rounded out by Tiesj Benoot (Decathlon CMA CGM), who returns to the line-up after a year’s absence for what will be his eighth road race.

On the squad selection, team coach Serge Pauwels confirmed that Evenepoel and Van Aert will both have a designated support rider, as the team try to manage the ambitions of both.

"Both team leaders will have someone with them during the race. It depends on the Grand Prix races, but generally, Quinten Hermans will stay with Van Aert, and Vermeersch with Evenepoel," Pauwels said to the media, including Het Laatste Nieuws.

With regard to the GP Québec and Montréal, Pauwels stated that Evenepoel's performances should not necessarily dictate how he feels mentally ahead of the main goal on September 27.

"I also told him that his feelings regarding the GPs need to be independent of how he feels about the World Championships. Last year, he won the World Championship time trial while Pogačar didn't fare as well," Pauwels said.

"That kind of thing can always shift the dynamics and expectations. I told him to view them separately, remain mentally flexible, and stay calm, regardless of whether the outcome of the GPs is positive or negative."

In addition, Evenepoel has also been selected for the elite men's time trial, where he is aiming for a fourth consecutive victory, and what would be a record-equalling tally of victories, joining Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara on four.

Current Belgian champion Segaert, who secured two silver medals in the discipline as an under-23, will also line up for the race against the clock, as will Rune Herregodts (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).